𝐁𝐔𝐋𝐋𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐋𝐘'𝐒

OO3. Sanctuary Behind Bars

SANCTUARY BEHIND BARS
Words:
2980
ACT THREE
DATE: August 18th 2012

Tommy blinked his eyes open as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the trees, casting a soft glow on the forest floor. He stretched and looked around, noticing Sadie already awake and sitting nearby, her face pale and drawn.

"Where's Mom?" Tommy asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, a hint of worry creeping into his voice.

Sadie didn't meet his gaze. She stared at the ground, her hands trembling slightly. "She got bit," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Tommy's heart sank, a cold wave of fear washing over him. "Did you try to save her?" he asked, his voice trembling with desperation.

Sadie didn't respond. Instead, she stood up abruptly, brushing off the leaves and dirt from her clothes. Without a word, she began searching through their supplies for any remaining food, her movements mechanical and detached. Tommy watched her, a heavy silence hanging between them, as the reality of their situation settled in.

Sadie looked back at Tommy who was still shaken up by the news of his mother being bitten, and his sister not saving her. "Come on we have to go look for food now."

The morning air was crisp, but it did little to alleviate the cold dread that had settled in Tommy's chest. He knew they had to keep moving, but the loss of their mother weighed heavily on his mind. As Sadie rummaged through their bags, Tommy couldn't help but feel a deep sense of helplessness and uncertainty about the days to come.

Tommy sat up fully, pulling his knees to his chest and wrapping his arms around them. He watched Sadie for a moment, his mind racing with questions and fears. "Sadie," he began hesitantly, "what are we going to do now?"

Sadie paused in her search, her shoulders tensing. She took a deep breath before turning to face Tommy, her eyes hard and determined. "We keep going," she said firmly. "We find food, we find shelter, and we stay alive. That's what Mom would have wanted."

Tommy nodded, though he couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had settled in his stomach. He knew Sadie was right, but the thought of continuing without their mother was almost too much to bear. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Okay," he said quietly. "But i'm pretty sure mom would have cared less about us"

Sadie nodded and went back to rummaging through their supplies. Tommy stood up and joined her, the two of them working in silence. The forest around them was eerily quiet, the only sounds the rustling of leaves and the distant calls of birds.

As they searched, Tommy's mind kept drifting back to their mother. He remembered the way she used to smile at them, the way she would comfort them when they were scared. He couldn't believe she was gone. It felt like a bad dream, one he couldn't wake up from.

"Sadie," he said after a while, breaking the silence. "Do you think... do you think she's okay now? You know, wherever she is?"

Sadie paused, her hands stilling on a can of beans she had found. She looked up at Tommy, her eyes softening for a moment. "I don't know," she admitted. "But I like to think she where she belongs...hell."

Tommy looked up, his eyebrows knitted together. The mention of his older sister saying their mother belonged in hell was unsettling but he agreed.

After they had eaten, they packed up their supplies and prepared to move on. The forest was dense and unfamiliar, but they had no choice but to keep going. They had to find safety, somewhere they could rest and regroup.

As they walked, Tommy couldn't help but think about the future. He wondered if they would ever find a place to call home again, if they would ever feel safe. It was a daunting thought, but he knew they had to keep moving forward. They had to survive.